Changes in Free Amino Acids and Sugars in Water-soluble Extracts of Fresh Ginseng during Browning Reaction

수삼물추출물의 갈변반응중 아미노산과 당류변화

An aqueous extract s of fresh ginseng roots was heated at loot for 64 hrs. and the changes of color intensity, pH and the amount of free sugars and amino acids during the various intervals of the heating time were investigated. Color intensity and absorbance of the solution at 490nm were increased in proportion to the length of the heating time. Most of brown pigments produced during the treatment were water soluble, and pH 5.1 at initial stage of the solution, was slightly decreased at the final stages of the reaction. Sucrose, glucose and fructose were major free sugars in ginseng roots, and the amounts of sucrose was over 90 % of total free sugars. Sucrose. was largely decreased approximately 50%, by 64 hrs of the treatment, whereas sharp increase in the amount of glucose and fructose was observed during the reaction in the solution. The observed increase in reducing sugars, glucose and fructose was presumed due to hydrolysis of sucrose. Evidently, glucose and fructose were not important factor to control the browning reaction of the solution. Most of free amino acids and peptides except alanine and isoleucine especially arginine, serine and threonine, were sharply decreased up to 40 : 50% of the original concentration within 2 hrs. Accordingly, the content of free amino acids and peptides seems to be extremely important factor to control the browning reaction in ginseng. A free amino acid, presumed to be nor-leucine, was found in fresh ginseng root on the basis of re mention on liquid chromatography. Kinetic analysis of the browning reaction indicated a pseudo second order with respect to amino acid concentration at the initial stage.